I have a 1989 wrangler with a 2.5" rancho lift, and well my car has a very rough/stiff ride. Is there anyway to smooth out the ride or is this a common problem I'm stuck with?

tigerblood

04-22-2013 04:34 PM

set tire pressure to 28-30psi, set sping and shackle bolts to 45 ft lbs

c5wagner

04-22-2013 04:39 PM

Thanks and I Will try, I'll report with results.

bigtoysforbigboys

04-22-2013 04:40 PM

Pull out those un needed trac bars

WGHyrum

04-22-2013 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigtoysforbigboys
(Post 3669222)

Pull out those un needed trac bars

X2

Take them out. It'll also save wear on your shackles and leafs. Leaf springs aren't meant to move sideways and track bars force them sideways a little bit.

c5wagner

04-22-2013 04:49 PM

Still a rough ride, and I've pulled out the track bars and sway bar already.

bigtoysforbigboys

04-22-2013 04:55 PM

Try loosening your shackles while its sitting on the ground and re torque them

WGHyrum

04-22-2013 04:56 PM

Lift it by the frame. Loosen the u-bolt nuts and the shackle and leaf nuts to just over hand-tight. Set it down. Jump on the bumpers, then torque them to spec with it on the ground.
I can look up the specs if you need them. I have them around here somewhere.

bigtoysforbigboys

04-22-2013 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wghyrum
(Post 3669279)

lift it by the frame. Loosen the u-bolt nuts and the shackle and leaf nuts to just over hand-tight. Set it down. Jump on the bumpers, then torque them to spec with it on the ground.
I can look up the specs if you need them. I have them around here somewhere.

x2

c5wagner

04-22-2013 05:19 PM

Sweet that worked out really well, I didn't realize the u-bolts could make it smoother. I should've put the kit on myself instead of trusting the idiots who installed it. Everything was torqued to around 60 ft lbs. Now I wish I did the soa lift instead but hey. Thanks a ton

WGHyrum

04-22-2013 06:46 PM

Common mistake that can make an awesome lift turn rock hard. Never torque a suspension when it's not under load.
Glad we could be of assistance.

sparkjockey

04-22-2013 08:24 PM

So the U-bolts should be cycled and torqued under load too? We did the shackles like that and I've loosened them and re-torqued them to 45 ft lbs (the directions said 90 ft lbs:confused:). We tightened the U-bolts while it was still up on the lift.

WGHyrum

04-22-2013 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparkjockey
(Post 3670071)

So the U-bolts should be cycled and torqued under load too? We did the shackles like that and I've loosened them and re-torqued them to 45 ft lbs (the directions said 90 ft lbs:confused:). We tightened the U-bolts while it was still up on the lift.

My specs say 65 for the shackles and 70-85 for the u-bolts

jokerchief462

04-22-2013 09:19 PM

The U bolts are a fixed assembly and deserve the torque. But once the lift is installed with the shackles snug the suspension needs to be cycled to settle in place. The stock shackles on mine did not move after the install at the recommended torque. I replaced them with some boomerang shackles and nylon lock nuts. Cycled and torqued to 45 ft/lbs. they cycle and move at a touch. Just bump the Jeep and they move for a smoother ride.